Deck construction questions

**davecameron** · 20th January 2015, 05:17 PM

I am building my first outside deck and would really appreciate some advice from you experienced guys out there. Could someone please clarify the following questions for me.

The deck is to be constructed on ground that slopes away from the house so that the bearer next to the house is 900mm above ground and the outside bearer is 1.4meters above ground. The deck is 10 by 3 meters.

My Questions are

1. The approved plan calls for bearers to be 2/140 x 45. Is it better to position each 140 x 45 timber on each side of the posts or stumps or is it better to place both (nail laminated together) on one side of the uprights? Also is it sufficient to only cheek the bearers into the uprights with a 10 mm recess?

2. I understand that bearer joints must be positioned on top of a stump. Is it OK to position the join in the middle of the stump so that each beam has a 50mm footing on the stump?

3. The plan calls for four 90 by 90 mm posts mounted on stirrups embedded in concrete with 3.5 meters between them.I plan to use these posts as the main support for the balustrade 1 meter above the deck. Below the balustrade I plan to use horizontal ss wire. Do I need upright supports between these posts and if so how many are needed in the 3.5 meter gap?Also is it OK if these intermediate supports extend only from the deck to the balustrade or do they need to go down to ground level?

Your help will be much appreciated.

davecameron

**Master Splinter** · 20th January 2015, 05:46 PM

Best bet is to repost that on the renovate forum - http://www.renovateforum.com/forum.php

**Bebbo** · 21st January 2015, 06:01 PM

1. The bearer needs to be completey supported by the post. Run a piece of flat plate bolted through the bearer and post with m10 bolts (gal). Usually id run a bigger bearer thats only 45 wide run a 45 deep checkout into the post.

2. Yes. Best practice to use flat plate and bolt the connection aswell.

3. I'll have to check the bca I've never run them past 1m centres. Also you could just connect between the joist/bearer to the balustrade for intermediate supports.

**Trav** · 21st January 2015, 07:00 PM

I did something similar on a deck I made many years ago. I ran the bearers on either side of the stump, and checked out 20mm on each side of the stump. Bolt through the lot with m10 or 12, 2 for each joint.

It's ok to run the stump all the way up to become the posts of the balustrade. This is the normal way to do it.

Not sure about the spacing of the other balusters. Bunnings stock a book called 'decks and pergolas' by Alan Staines that will have all the answers. Well worth the $20.

Trav

**davecameron** · 22nd January 2015, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by Trav

I did something similar on a deck I made many years ago. I ran the bearers on either side of the stump, and checked out 20mm on each side of the stump. Bolt through the lot with m10 or 12, 2 for each joint.

It's ok to run the stump all the way up to become the posts of the balustrade. This is the normal way to do it.

Not sure about the spacing of the other balusters. Bunnings stock a book called 'decks and pergolas' by Alan Staines that will have all the answers. Well worth the $20.

Trav

Thanks Trav. I bought the book today it is great.

**davecameron** · 22nd January 2015, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by Bebbo

1. The bearer needs to be completey supported by the post. Run a piece of flat plate bolted through the bearer and post with m10 bolts (gal). Usually id run a bigger bearer thats only 45 wide run a 45 deep checkout into the post.

2. Yes. Best practice to use flat plate and bolt the connection aswell.

3. I'll have to check the bca I've never run them past 1m centres. Also you could just connect between the joist/bearer to the balustrade for intermediate supports.

Thank you for your input Bebbo.

**davecameron** · 22nd January 2015, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by Master Splinter

Best bet is to repost that on the renovate forum - http://www.renovateforum.com/forum.php

Thanks Master Splinter. I did not know of the renovate forum and will check it out.

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